Twitter has announced its withdrawal from the European Union’s voluntary code aimed at combating disinformation. The news was shared on Twitter by Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, who emphasized that new legislation would compel compliance from the company. Breton stated, “Obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide,” while underscoring that Twitter would be legally obligated to combat disinformation in the EU starting from August 25. He added, “Our teams will be ready for enforcement.” Twitter has yet to confirm its stance on the code or respond to requests for comment.
The EU’s disinformation code, launched in June of the previous year, has garnered the participation of numerous tech firms, both large and small, including Meta (owner of Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, Google, Microsoft, and Twitch. Its primary objectives encompass preventing the exploitation of disinformation and fake news for profit, enhancing transparency, and curbing the dissemination of bots and fake accounts. Signatory companies can select from a range of commitments within the code, such as cooperating with fact-checkers and monitoring political advertising.
Under the ownership of Elon Musk, Twitter’s moderation efforts have reportedly decreased, leading critics to argue that this lax approach has facilitated the spread of disinformation. Former employees and experts claim that Twitter’s specialized team dedicated to combating coordinated disinformation campaigns either resigned or were laid off. Last month, the BBC uncovered numerous Russian and Chinese state propaganda accounts thriving on the platform.
Nonetheless, Mr. Musk, the CEO of Twitter, asserts that there is now “less misinformation rather than more” since he assumed control in October of the previous year. Parallel to the voluntary code, the EU has enacted the Digital Services Act (DSA), a law that compels companies to take more decisive action against illegal online content. From August 25, platforms with over 45 million monthly active users in the EU, including Twitter, will be legally obliged to adhere to the DSA regulations.
The DSA necessitates that Twitter implement a mechanism enabling users to report illegal content, promptly act upon notifications, and implement measures to address the dissemination of disinformation. In response to Musk’s approach, an official from the European Commission remarked, “If he doesn’t take the code seriously, then it’s better that he quits,” as reported by the AFP news agency. The withdrawal of Twitter from the EU’s disinformation code and the imminent enforcement of new laws highlight the evolving landscape of combating disinformation and online content regulation.
